Method of starching fabric.



cm 0 9 1 2 1 Y A M D E T N E T A P.

mm. B L L I M G H 3 8 6 l 8 8 0 N Ni i METHOD OF STARGHING FABRIC.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 3, 1905.

wi/mmw UNITED STAT; PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY O. MILLER, OF WATERFORD, NEW YORK.

i METHOD OF STARCHING- FABRIC.

Application filed August 3, 1905.

To all whom it may concern:

Be 1t known that I, HENRY C. MILLER, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Waterford, in the county ofSaratoga and State of New York, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Methods of Starching Fabric, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to an improved method of starching fabrics beforeironing.

Heretofore, fabrics have been starched in a cold solution of uncooked orraw starch and then ironed, while another method is employed whichconsists of first boiling the raw starch, and then rubbing the same intothe fabric. In this boiled state the starch is about the consistency ofjelly, and is used hot or cold, being forced into the fabric by poundingor rubbing either by special machinery or manually. The use of boiledstarch is the preferred method now used for laundry work, as it is knownthat the cooking of the starch gives better results before ironing thanis ossible to obtain with raw starch, the only c i'fficulty being in theforcing of the cooked starch through the diflerent thicknesses offabric.

According to my method, I first use a mixture of cold water and rawstarch (with proper amount of bluing to give the fabric the propereffect when finished) which mixture penetrates the different thicknessesof fabric when the latter is immersed in it and slightly agitated. Afterthe fabric has been thoroughly saturated with the mixture, it is thentreated by boiling of the incorporated raw starch in the fabric,preferably by means of steam.

In the accompanying drawingI have shown somewhat conventlonally onemeans for carrying out my improved method.

Figure 1 represents a tank in which the fabric is treated with asolution of cold water and raw starch. Fig. 2 is a section of a wringerto remove from the fabric surplus raw starch. Fig. 3 is a view of acooker. Fig. 4 is a section of a device for removing sull'plus cookedstarch from the fabric.

11 carrying out my method the fabric is placed in a receptacle 1, whichis agitated and contains a solution of cold water and raw starch. Theagitation insures the starch being driven into the fabric and at thesame time prevents the starch settling. It is not essential to treat anumber of pieces of fabric at a time, as it is quite evident, articlessuch as collars, cuffs and shirts can readily and Specification ofLetters Patent.

Patented May 12, 1908.

Serial No. 272,603.

conveniently be handled singly. After the fabric is impregnated with theraw starch, it is then removed from the receptacle 1 and passed througha wringer or other suitable machine 2 to remove the surplus starch,which is directed to a receptacle 3 and is used again. When the fabrichas been relieved of unnecessary starch, it is then delivered to acooker 4, which is sealed and revolved, and steam is introduced thereto,as through a pipe 5. the agitation opens the fibers and the heat cooksthe starch therein. In cases where the fabric contains a number ofseams, or is unusually thick, the cooking is prolonged until everyportion designed to be starched is brought under the influence of theheat and the particles of starch are cooked to the point where it willserve its mission. When the cold starch fabric has been in the cookerfor a determined period, it is removed and then passed through either awringer 6, or is rubbed down, or a like operation is performed to insurethe proper amount of starch in the fabric, after which it is smoothed.down by hand and dried ready for ironing. hen the starch is firstintroduced in the fabric it is in a raw state but mixed with cold liquidto insure of the fabric being saturated, after which it is cooked in thefibers so that when the pressure is applied the starch and fibers arecompressed which serves to produce a very smooth effect when ironed, aresult which is of the utmost importance in high grade and custom madearticles.

Machinery is not essential in carrying out my method, as it is evidentthe same high grade results may be obtained by manually treating thefabric as described.

I desire it to be understood that the term uncooked starch as expressedin the claims shall mean starch as furnished the trade and ready foruse.

My invention possesses many decided advantages over the prior art, as Idispense with expensive help, and avoid damaging the fabric, anduniformly distribute the starch. Again I find by cooking the raw starchin the fabric, far better results are obtained than first cooking thestarch and forcing the same in the fabric.

I/Vhat I claim is:

1. That improvement in the art of starching fabric which consists inimpregnating the fabric with uncooked starch, then cooking theimpregnated fabric in moisture in a WVhile the fabric is in the cooker,

cooker, and then applying pressure to the fabric.

2. That improvement in the art of starching fabric which consists inimpregnating the 'nated fabric after the starch has been cooked in it.

4. That improvement in the art of starching fabric which consists inimpregnating the fabric with uncooked starch in liquid form, and thencooking the impregnated fabric in moisture in a cooker.

5. That improvement in the art of starching fabric which consists inimmersing the fabric in a cold raw starch bath, agitating the same, andthen cooking the starched fabric in an agitator.

6. That improvement in the art of starching fabric which consists inimmersing the fabric in a solution of cold uncooked starch, removing thesurplus starch from the fabric, and then cooking the starched fabric inmoisture in a cooker.

7. That improvement in the art of starching fabric which consists inimmersing the fabric in a solution of cold uncooked starch, removing thesurplus starch from the fabric, and then cooking the immersed fabric inmoisture in a cooker, and then rubbing the fabric.

8. That improvement in' the art of starching fabric which consists inimpregnating the fabric with uncooked starch by forcing the starch intothe fibers of the fabric, removing the surplusstarch, and then cookingthe impregnated fabric in moisture in a cooker.

9. That improvement in the art of starching fabric which consists ofimpregnating the fabric with uncooked starch by forcing the starch intothe fibers of the fabric and then cooking the impregnated fabric in acovered cooker.

10. That improvement in the art of starching fabric which consists inimpregnating the fabric with a solution of cold raw starch, and thencooking the fabric in a covered cooker. 1 1. That improvement in the artof starching fabric which consists in impregnating the fabric with coldraw starch, then cooking the fabric to loosen the fibers thereof andcook the uncooked starch there between, and then apply pressure tocompress the fibers and the cooked starch.

12. That improvement in the art of starching fabric which consists ofimmersing the fabric in a solution of cold water and raw starch,agitating the same, removing the surplus uncooked solution, then cookingthe fabric to incorporate the starch therein, and then removing thesurplus cooked starch from the fabric.

13. That improvement in the art of starching fabric which consists ofimmersing the fabric in a solution of cold water and raw starch,agitating the solution and fabric, to keep the particles of starch insuspension to impregnate the fabric with starch, and then cooking theimpregnated fabric in steam.

14. That improvement in the art of starching fabric which consists inimpregnating the fabric with uncooked starch, then cooking.

the impregnated fabric by subjecting it to steam, and then applyingpressure to the fabric.

15. That improvement in the art of starching fabric which consists inimpregnating the fabric with raw starch, then cooking the impregnatedfabric and starch in a cooker with steam, and then cleansing the outsidesurface of the fabric of superfluous starch.

16. That improvement in the art of starching fabric which consists inimpregnating the fabric with raw starch, then cooking the im pregnatedfabric and starch in a cooker'with steam, and then smoothing out thefabric and eliminating superfluous starch.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature, in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

HENRY C. MILLER.

T/Vitnesses WM. F. PALMER, ALoNZo KNAPPEN.

